Current Position: Park Ranger at Green River Reservoir State Park.
How long have you been with Vermont State Parks and in what capacity?
11 years total. I have been a ranger for 6 years, 1 year as dock master, 1 year as night ranger, and 3 years as an attendant.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Ranger?
I started working in the Vermont state parks when I was in high school.
The reason was that I love the outdoors, and wanted to see others be able to enjoy it also. I have wanted to work as the ranger where I am since the conception of the park in 1999. I was finally able to get the job in 2001.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
I don?t have a set schedule as to what I do from day to day. I do have certain jobs that do need to be completed within a time frame. I am in the office taking reservations from 8am to 10am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday because we have no power at our park. Then I will go to the park and make sure everything is set at the parking area. Then we will go to complete our weekly projects. We have to place enzymes in our pit toilets once a week, clean the sites as much as possible, and any other things that may come up that need to be done.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
48 hours.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy being in the outdoors, and getting to see others enjoy the outdoors.
I have been around this park almost since it opened, so I enjoy being involved in developing the park.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
It is hard not having power at the park, and my office being 10 minutes away. I am not able to keep an eye on the staff late at night, so they may not do much or leave early. Plus there are only a total of 5 employees at the park, so scheduling and completing additional projects is difficult.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
There really aren?t any huge requirements. You art required to have a high school diploma. Every years prior to the season starting, we are required to go to some training that the Vermont state park system sets up.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Yes, more in the realm of management of staff. I find it hard sometimes because I usually get some new staff every year. Not everyone will get along and not everyone is motivated. I am a more relaxed and friend supervisor. This will get me in trouble with staff sometimes, because they will not listen as well.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I have been pumping our remote pit toilets, and building new red worm toilets.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger, what advice could you give them?
I would say, if you want your staff to respect you, you need to be in the trenches with them. I would try to let them all know the kinds of things that you are responsible for also. That way they won?t think that you aren?t doing anything when you are keeping things going.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Working in the Vermont state parks system is very fun and rewarding. You will get to meet and know many great people. The customers that you meet are there because they want to be, and love where they are. It is very rewarding to see people enjoying the outdoors.
<< See other Vermont interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>Interview with a Park Ranger Name: Jason Kelley
Current Position: Park Ranger at Green River Reservoir State Park.
How long have you been with Vermont State Parks and in what capacity?
11 years total. I have been a ranger for 6 years, 1 year as dock master, 1 year as night ranger, and 3 years as an attendant.
How did you become involved in working as a Park Ranger?
I started working in the Vermont state parks when I was in high school. The reason was that I love the outdoors, and wanted to see others be able to enjoy it also. I have wanted to work as the ranger where I am since the conception of the park in 1999. I was finally able to get the job in 2001.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
I don?t have a set schedule as to what I do from day to day. I do have certain jobs that do need to be completed within a time frame. I am in the office taking reservations from 8am to 10am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday because we have no power at our park. Then I will go to the park and make sure everything is set at the parking area. Then we will go to complete our weekly projects. We have to place enzymes in our pit toilets once a week, clean the sites as much as possible, and any other things that may come up that need to be done.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
48 hours.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy being in the outdoors, and getting to see others enjoy the outdoors. I have been around this park almost since it opened, so I enjoy being involved in developing the park.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
It is hard not having power at the park, and my office being 10 minutes away. I am not able to keep an eye on the staff late at night, so they may not do much or leave early. Plus there are only a total of 5 employees at the park, so scheduling and completing additional projects is difficult.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
There really aren?t any huge requirements. You art required to have a high school diploma. Every years prior to the season starting, we are required to go to some training that the Vermont state park system sets up.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
Yes, more in the realm of management of staff. I find it hard sometimes because I usually get some new staff every year. Not everyone will get along and not everyone is motivated. I am a more relaxed and friend supervisor. This will get me in trouble with staff sometimes, because they will not listen as well.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
I have been pumping our remote pit toilets, and building new red worm toilets.
If someone were interested in working as a Park Ranger, what advice could you give them?
I would say, if you want your staff to respect you, you need to be in the trenches with them. I would try to let them all know the kinds of things that you are responsible for also. That way they won?t think that you aren?t doing anything when you are keeping things going.
Please share any further thoughts you may have about working in the state park system:
Working in the Vermont state parks system is very fun and rewarding. You will get to meet and know many great people. The customers that you meet are there because they want to be, and love where they are. It is very rewarding to see people enjoying the outdoors.
<< See other Vermont interviews -- Search by state -- Search by job title>>